US embassy cable - 04MADRID3892

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 003892 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2014 
TAGS: KPKO, PGOV, PREL, SP, UNSC 
SUBJECT: SPAIN URGES FRANCE TO BUDGE ON WESTERN SAHARA 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, 
reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) The Spanish Foreign Ministry's chief diplomat for 
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and African issues told 
visiting EUR/WE office director Kathy Allegrone October 1 
that Spain has edged "closer toward neutrality" on the 
Western Sahara issue and is urging France to budge from its 
firm support for Morocco's position in the conflict.  Spain 
believes the UNSC must amend the Baker plan to allow for 
further negotiation since "Morocco simply refuses to accept 
the Baker plan."  The MFA's desk officer for North Africa 
told poloff separately that although Spain wants SGSR de Soto 
to jump start negotiations, the Spanish are concerned the 
international community will ignore the issue because de Soto 
does not have James Baker's star power.  The Zapatero 
government is convinced any final resolution must recognize 
Moroccan sovereignty but also autonomy for the Sahrawis.  End 
summary. 
 
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Western Sahara Process Off Course 
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2.  (C) Alvaro Iranzo, the MFA's director general for the 
Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa told Allegrone and 
poloff that the Western Sahara matter was off course and the 
Zapatero government was trying to take corrective action. 
"Any solution to the problem must be agreed, not imposed," 
commented Iranzo.  In order the prod the parties to move 
beyond the current impasse, the UN Security Council would 
need to pass a resolution that renews MINURSO and gives SGSR 
de Soto a mandate to negotiate changes to the Baker Plan.  In 
terms of a solution, Iranzo said "No plan makes sense without 
some kind of autonomy for the Sahrawis, but at the same time 
the Moroccan flag must fly over the territory."  Separately, 
the MFA's North Africa desk officer told poloff that even 
though Spain would like de Soto to spur further negotiations, 
Spain is worried that without former Secretary Baker's star 
power, the international community will ignore the problem 
and the dispute will simmer indefinitely. 
 
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France Should Follow Spain's Lead 
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3.  (C) After first denying Spain had shifted its 
long-standing support for the Polisario, Iranzo later 
admitted Spain had modified its position "slightly" in the 
hopes that France would do the same.  The first order of 
business is to achieve some degree of "rapprochement" between 
Algeria and Morocco," and that would only happen if France 
does as Spain has done -- move somewhat toward neutrality. 
France has always backed Morocco fully but "Paris needs to be 
more flexible.8  Iranzo did not predict how likely France 
was to budge from its support for Morocco but assured us the 
Zapatero government was working hard to make this happen. 
"Spain has adopted a more pragmatic approach that does not 
antagonize any of the principal parties to the dispute.  We 
are hoping France does the same," explained Iranzo.  The 
MFA's North Africa desk officer commented separately to 
poloff that the long-running dispute in Western Sahara is the 
major obstacle to good Algerian-Moroccan relations and is 
therefore a matter of abiding interest to the both France and 
Spain.  Iranzo said that once France has revised its 
position, Madrid would be looking to Washington for further 
support in resolving the conflict. 
 
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You Can Bring the Horse to Water . . . 
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4.  (C) In the end, however, Iranzo admitted the serious 
challenge facing Spain, France and others seeking a solution. 
 The Polisario insists the Baker Plan be implemented but 
Morocco refuses to do so.  "You can bring the horse to the 
water, but you can't make it drink," Iranzo said, "it appears 
that right now neither horse wants to drink and ultimately 
they must do so voluntarily." 
 
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Comment 
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5.  (C) Iranzo's remarks are consistent with FM Moratinos' 
statements several days before to the Spanish Senate that the 
Baker Plan was a dead end because Morocco would not accept 
it.  But Iranzo was more forthcoming than Moratinos has been 
on Spain's new "realpolitik" approach to the conflict -- 
Moratinos has not yet admitted Spain has altered its support 
for the Polisario.  Spain's new, more pragmatic approach 
toward Moroccan interests makes sense only if Madrid succeeds 
in getting Paris to be equally pragmatic about Algeria's and 
the Polisario's interests.  Despite the Zapatero government's 
well-known reorientation of Spain's foreign policy toward 
France, it remains to be seen whether Spain can exercise any 
influence over its northern neighbor on an issue of 
significance, such as Western Sahara. 
ARGYROS